Not many know that Zarine Khan loves bikes. Her favourite past time is not to ride pillion but in control of it. During a road trip to Goa recently, the actress had the thrill of riding it on the highway.

"She learnt how to ride a bike when she was in college and has loved it ever since. Riding on the Goa-Mumbai road was a big high for her. Whenever she gets a break, Zarine loves whizzing around her home in Bandra," said a source.

The Veer and Housefull 2 actress is also keen to own a sports bike. The source added: "But she is having a hard time convincing her family to let her. They think she is a tomboy."

Incidentally Salman Khan who launched Zarine in Bollywood also has a penchant for zooming around Bandra's bylanes on a bike late nights.

Speaking of a code conduct in public places, here's an example from the unlikeliest quarters.

It was at the launch of a luxury brand at a new shopping destination in Kurla, that your diarist came across a curious sight. At the event, it was the young starlet Zarine Khan, who was doing the honours, and being wooed by the media, till it was time for the star of evening to waltz in. Deepika Padukone's entry, to say the least, was accompanied with the usual blitzkrieg, with the photographers and the fans surrounding her with a flurry of flashbulbs. Zarine, who caught your diarist's eye, stepped aside, smiled in her own dignified way, and quietly stepped out from the other door of the same store. We don't know of too many starlets who would be willing to make such a gracious exit, and we do approve of it.

Fashion Designers Deepak, Anand and Hina unveiled their evening and western wear brand Maira, with actress Zarine Khan for the inauguration at their exclusive design studio at MGF Metropolitan Mall, Saket. According to Hina, Maira represents the 'young urban woman' and Zarine Khan fit the tag perfectly.Anand, an importer of steel by profession had a passion to style clothes. While Hina, a graduate from NIFT had learned the art of designing. They entered into styling and designing clothes for various export houses and stores in Delhi and NCR four years ago. And with the growing success, they launched their label Maira, at their first retail outlet in Delhi. The designer trio plans to open 3-4 stores by the year end in Delhi and NCR.“Our evening wear collection has all the elements of glamour and style, and represent the modern urban woman,” says Anand. “We have designed evening gowns, cocktail dresses, lounge dresses, both short and long, in flowing fabrics like chiffon and georgette, as well as in fabrics like satin and silk.”

Hence, Zarine Khan couldn’t gather enough people for her birthday but it seems she doesn’t mindat all.

“I would have never imagined a big bash for my birthday. It would have anyway been a small party with some of my very close pals whom I have been friends with for a long time. Some of them have remained close to me since my high school days,” she says.

So, why couldn’t they make the birthday party happen? “I would have loved to havea small get-together with my close friends but this year it did not happen because most of my close friends had a wedding to attend that day.

Of course a wedding is far, far more important than a birthday party. And on top of that, I don’t think they would have been able to manage to attend both of them,” says Zarine who turned 23.

Zarine Khan turns a year older tomorrow, but the newbie isn’t partying or cutting a cake, we are told.

Is that a way to cut down on calories, Zarine? But that apart, Zarine, who is a animal lover, is also excited because she recently managed to save a cat and even went on to adopt it. This was taken note of by an animal welfare association, who acknowledged her deed with an award. Well, this birthday,Zarine will receive a lovely Present in the Form of PETA Awards.

NEW DELHI: Bollywood actress Zarine Khan of the “Veer” fame will get the ‘Hero to Animals’ award from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for rescuing a cat.

The actress, who is an animal lover, rescued a malnourished cat from the streets of Mumbai and rushed her to a veterinary hospital. She kept a tab on the cat’s progress and even walked barefoot to Mahim Dargah to pray for her recovery. Khan has adopted the cat and calls her Softy.

“The rescue of Softy shows that Khan’s beauty is much more than skin deep,” said PETA campaign coordinator Madhuri Deshmukh.